Convicted paedophile lived and worked in B&B across road from Dublin creche as he awaited sentencing for having 2,500 depraved images of kids

The B&B owner tells the Irish Sun: 'The police knew that he was there. As soon as I gave this person a chance to get a job with the trouble he was in, I spoke to the police station. I pointed out that there was a creche across the road. And they (the cops) called on him on a regular basis and there was no problem'

Exclusive

By Gary Meneely

3rd January 2018, 8:00 am

Updated: 3rd January 2018, 9:07 am

A CONVICTED paedophile lived directly across the road from a creche for a year as he worked at a B&B.

John O’Donoghue, 58, has previously served time for indecently assaulting a ten-year-old boy.

And he was waiting to be sentenced for having 2,500 depraved images of kids when he was employed at East Park Lodge in Rathmines, Dublin — across the street from Appleblossom creche and montessori school.

The former teacher and tennis coach’s own lawyer told how O’Donoghue had quit his school job “for obvious reasons” and had given up coaching so as not to be around young people.

Yet we have learned the sicko had recently pitched up next to a childcare facility — where unsuspecting punters gave him glowing reviews after staying at the B&B.

O’Donoghue lived and worked there until his sentencing last month. A source told the Irish Sun last night: “It beggars belief that this man lived and worked at a B&B directly across the road from a creche.

“He is a convicted sex offender who repeatedly abused a ten-year-old boy, for goodness sake.

“The fact that he was living across from the creche as he awaited ­sentence for yet another perverted crime after being caught with child porn will cause further astonishment and anger.

The Appleblossom creche and montessori school is across from the B&B where O'Donoghue worked

“The simple fact is that his own lawyer said had he had resigned his teaching job ‘for obvious reasons’ and had given up coaching tennis so not to be around young people.

“Surely to God he should not then be allowed to live right across from a creche, around even younger ­children.

“Another troubling issue is the fact that he was working in the B&B with guests unaware of his background. Would you be happy to stay with your family in a B&B that had a paedophile working there?

“The whole thing is truly shocking and sickening.”

The Irish Sun contacted the B&B after concerns were raised to our reporter about O’Donoghue being allowed to work at the lodgings across the road from a creche. The owner confirmed they gave O’Donoghue “a chance to get a job” knowing “the trouble” he was in.

And they told how gardai were made aware of O’Donoghue’s ­presence in the area by them.

BLUE MONDAY (AND TUESDAY)

ASSAULT RAP

The court heard that when O’Donoghue was arrested in December 2016 he claimed he “wasn’t aware” the images were on his equipment and said: “Look, I find this to be disgusting and I do not look at child pornography. The fact that children may have been hurt in making these . . . I am seriously upset about that.”

O’Donoghue pleaded guilty to five sample counts of indecent assault of a boy between 1989 and 1991, for which he was caged for three-and-a-half years with 18 months suspended in 2013.

He abused him on up to 20 occasions after pretending he wanted to wrestle with the lad from when he was just 10 years old.